This article puts forward the wider context within which the election is taking place to explain why National has struggled to convince voters and why they are unlikely to win the 2020 election. * 'Game on': National voters galvanised by change of leader* What Judith Collins means for NZ First and ACTWhy has National been unable to bounce back in the polls? When voters judge the performance of Ardern they are not only comparing her to the leader of the National Party. It becomes very difficult for National to convince voters that Ardern is failing when she is clearly performing far better than the leaders from the countries New Zealanders compare themselves to. ACT has experienced a rise in the polls, but this is mostly due to disgruntled National voters looking for an alternative, and the party focusing on culture war issues.

Source: Stuff August 20, 2020 06:41 UTC